On 1 February, the Guild of the University of Birmingham formally de-recognised the University of Birmingham Socialist Students society in an attack on democracy and free speech on campus, writes Socialist Student Statement on de-recognition.

Industrially and politically, Britain's largest public sector union is under siege from the Tories' relentless austerity agenda. Meanwhile, Unison's right-wing leadership and bureaucracy resort to dirty tricks to hold the struggle back.

The Unison general secretary election, and the union itself, were thrown into disarray last week with the release of a secret recording of a meeting of the London regional staff. In the meeting, held on 21 October, regional secretary Linda Perks can be heard organising staff to campaign for general secretary Dave Prentis.

From 1983 to 1987 Liverpool was led by supporters of Militant (predecessor of the Socialist), who at the time were members of the Labour Party. When faced with cuts from central government, they refused to pass them on.

In fury at the popularity of Jeremy Corbyn's Labour leadership campaign, right wing politicians and media alike have been referring to 'infiltration' of the Labour Party by Militant supporters. Militant was the predecessor of the Socialist Party - whose supporters in the past were members of the Labour Party.

John Biggs, long standing Labour right-winger and veteran of the witch-hunt against supporters of the Militant newspaper (forerunner of the Socialist), has been elected mayor of Tower Hamlets with executive powers. This comes after the undemocratic removal of the previously elected mayor by central government.